Pre-Engagement Show of LIZA'S AT THE PALACE at Stadium Theater in Woonsocket, RI.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 9:29am

I was very fortunate to see great divas of stage & pop music this year. Last January~I had a chance to see Miss Patty LuPone on Broadway as Mama Rose in LUPONE GYPSY, I saw (my idol) Madonna's concert STICKY & SWEET BOSTON around my birthday week and lastly I finally saw Liza Minnelli LIVE last night during her 4 shows try-out of her LIZA'S AT THE PALACE that would be moving to Broadway this December.

This is my first time to see Liza, but I am very familiar with her music. I have listen to her LIZA LIVE AT RADIO CITY MUSIC HALL CD a million times. I will say I was very suprised how good she is live. Seeing her perform some of Kander & Ebb standards is a real treat. As I said. I never seen her live but I am familiar with her work and for those who wants to see the Liza on stage- wont be disappointed~ she is a bombastic, energetic, funny and confident as the same old Liza in CABARET movie that we all love. Let me say this.. seeing her live- is a MUST for the new generation of Broadway enthusiast.

***

Act 1 : (around 1 hour)

1. Overture/ Teach Me Tonight
2. I Would Never Leave You
3. IF You Hadn't But You Did
4. What Makes A Man A Man
5. Own Best Friend
6. Maybe This Time
7. He's Funny That Way
8. At The Palace
9. Cabaret

Intermission

ACT 2 (around 1 hour)


1. World Goes 'Round
2. Kay Thompson Segment (about 30 mins)

- Hello, Hello
-Jubilee Time
-Basin Street Blues
-Clap Yo Hands
-Liza
-Violin

3. Mammy
4. New York, New York (Finale number)
5. Bows & Encore-she sang a song (dont know the title in acapella)

*****

Her opening number was Teach Me Tonight-everyone was clapping when she comes out. She did the same arrangement & tempo of this song from her CD Liza Live at Radio...

What Makes a Man a Man- very haunting song- her tribute to her gay fans.

My favorite songs in ACT 1 are Maybe This Time & Cabaret- I thought she sound great in Maybe This Time_-she sounded like the old Liza from the Movie Soundtrack of Cabaret. Her Cabaret number was very unexpected (meaning after singing a great number-At the Palace, she sung another great song) and she never fails to deliver the same enthusiastic Sally Bowles that we saw in the 1973 movie.

Own Best Friend was a real treat specially if you never had a chance Liza in a musical (like me) she performed this song as if she is doing CHICAGO complete with a monologue.

At The Palace- is one of the NEW two songs that she is performing. (meaning she never sung this before) from what I understand~this song was written for her mother, Judy Garland for her show at the Palace. It sounds very Kander & Ebb and one of the highlight of ACT 1~very long too!

A note on Maybe This Time & Cabaret- if you ever dream or fantasize of seeing a Cabaret on stage version with Liza~this is your chance- she sang this song exactly like in the movie. though she was sitting down in Maybe this Time, but still she has that certain "Liza Minnelli pose" that very her!

The opening number of Act 2~ World Goes Round was really good, same old bombastic Liza doing what she is good-doing Kander & Ebb standards.

I am not familiar with Kay Thompson but nevertheless the segment was entertaining and lively. She is backed now by 4 guys ~I forgot the name..Brothers? doing a Kay Thompson Act at the Zero. Though I thought they could cut some parts-it was very long and if you are not familiar with Kay Thompson- you might get bored. I did not.

****SPOILERS******

The good part is her stories in between the songs- she told stories about her godmother Kay Thompson and her relationship with her. The funniest part is the story about her closet in her bedroom.

Speaking of funny..I think the main reason why i enjoyed the show is because she is very funny thru the entire show~she makes fun of her self -about her age, her marriages and divorces.

******END SPOILERS******

Mammy was truly an remarkable number. I think the best part of the show is New York, New York. She did exactly the same arrangement and tempo as her NY, NY from her Liza Live CD. Seeing her perform this song live is worth the price of the admission. I always dream of seeing her perform this song live. From her little Liza's moves, her bombastic voice, the lighting ~this song is PERFECT! I am sure you guys would love to hear this song specially if you never seen her live specially if she in singing this at the Palace and where else? in New York City! -that is something that everyone here should experience!

The band (Billy Strich & his orchestra) is onstage. They sounded full, rich and great.
Liza's 4 back up singers are really good too~which do most of her dancing in the Kay Thompson segment- its a very lively segment.

I did not stage door because It was very cold! Though pass the stage door at the Stadium which I talked to some people who are stage dooring for the past 3 nights. Ive noticed that there is a trailer and I was told that she went inside right away after the show. She never takes photos with the fans and she has a publicist that goes out from the trailer and takes your CD, photos, memorabilia, etc...to bring it inside (her trailer) for her to sign. I dont know about NYC but this is how she did it in Rhode Island.

If you have questions..pls feel free to ask me and I will try my best to answer it. About photos~ YES. People were talking photos inside the theater during the show. since it was a concert! like most concert-the ushers never really implemented NO PHOTOS-just because soo many people taking photos at the same time. ( I dont know idf they would do same in the Palace) Personally I thought it was very distracting.. but I cant say anything because I took photos myself too..though I did not used my flash (as not to distract) and my photos turn out nice! everyone was snapping their iphones, blackberry..etc. and Liza seems to enjoy it!

Lastly..Chris and I have a blast- we both enjoyed her show! Its EXACTLY what I am expecting..same old Liza doing Kander & Ebb's song and she never disappoints us.
Chris actually told me after the show...Finally you brought me something that I really enjoyed!

If you never had a chance to see her live! Go see her at THE PALACE! They say my lucky number is 4.. hopefully I will see one more DIVA before this year ends and that's Joey Arias in ARIAS WITH THE TWIST and I will be a very happy person!

Thanks

J*

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 9:45am

"Miss Patty LuPone "

It's Patti with an I, not Patty with a Y cause Patti with a Y would go...well you know.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 9:49am

Yeah~sorry about that. I saw it afterwards. It was late for me to correct. somehow if I go back , re-edit it IF My subject title is long....it will be reduced to ...like Pre-Engagement Show of Liza's at..... and I wont be able to add more letters.

Of course.. Its Patti~ just TOO LATE for me time to go back or else I would loose half of my title subject.

Example: Look at my title now! That's what happen when I go back & re-edit it..

J*

Updated On: 11/23/08 at 09:49 AM

[MamasDoin'Fine]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 9:50am

Oh please Gypsy get a life!

Jaystarr is BACK Yeaaaa!

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 10:01am

Oh Thanks MammasDoin'Fine/WickedBoy2!

here's some photos from the show last night:


(there's no program/playbill~I just photoshop'd this for my facebook album cover)

Stadium Theater Marquee


Inside the 1,200 seats STADIUM THEATER

The show was SOLD OUT last night!


I thought I post this (kinda funny)The trailer at the stage door with 1 cop and two extra security-the publicist is the lady on the left. From what I heard ~she never posed with the fans, only signs CD, memorabilia, etc..inside her trailer and the publicist will bring your memorabilia later with a sign autographed by Liza.



Updated On: 11/23/08 at 10:01 AM

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 10:53am

I saw the opening performance on Wednesday and Liza stayed in her trailer. It was frigid out though, so I don't blame her. I thought it was incredibly classy for her to have people's items brought into the trailer. I now have a signed Cabaret record hanging above my fireplace... and it looks GORGEOUS!

The show was truly incredible; honestly, one of the most exhilerating nights I've ever spent in a theater. New Yorkers, Liza will not disappoint!

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 11:50am

It sounds amazing! I like the songs that she performed, she is truly fantastic, a DIVA!
Jaystarr, I wish you would take my advise and see Sarah Brightman on Monday and then you can add her to the list of stars, along with Lupone and Madonna. Even if you get the cheapest tix! Trust me.
Thanks for the wonderful pix.

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 1:41pm

What was the set like?

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:07pm

What was the set like?



Liza's wardrobes : 4

Act 1- white sequence pant suite with a scarf.

Act 2- World Goes Round- black pant suite with pink sleeves & collar.

Kate Thompson segment- her trademark over size shirt/ stockings -no pants with boots up to her knees (the color is black & sequenced.)


Mammy/ New York New York number- red (cant really tell) one
she's wearing on the photo (set photo) and below



J*








Updated On: 11/23/08 at 02:07 PM

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 2:52pm

btw.. I found this clip from GLAAD awards. Liza performing Charles Aznavour's "What Makes a Man a Man" accompanied by Marc Shaiman. I encouraged everyone to see this clip because its a very good song~the lyrics are just very timely specially gay people are still fighting to be equal at this time & age. Liza did this song in her concert, of course with the full orchestra.

Liza Minnelli with Marc Shaiman in What Makes A Man A Man.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MCw2W6rZaGo&feature=related

J*

[RentBoy86]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 4:29pm

Ugh, that's the set? Was it directed to look like a lame high school production? I know most people are going to see Liza, not 'the show,' but still. I want a little glitz and a little glam.

[jaystarr]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 4:41pm

The set was not that bad. It actually changes color. As you can see the band is onstage. Hopefully they put something on Broadway like a marquee ala ROSE (in Gypsy) at the Palace, but if you look at the whole show..it was just perfect. They keep it simple~so you can focus on Liza's Act.

The cast includes Cortés Alexander, Jim Caruso, Tiger Martina and Johnny Rodgers. The director's name is Ron Lewis which is also the choreographer.

I found these photos on playbill.com



this is the Kay Thompson's act segment. She is basically wearing a very similar outfit~basically the same from head to toe- just all sequenced. The guys are wearing shirt & tie.

The show is very polish already from what I saw last night. Liza was onstage most of the time with the exception of 5 minutes where the guys sung a Gershwin song.

The New York New York & Cabaret numbers are very very good! same bombastic Liza and you guys wont be disappointed!

J*

Updated On: 11/23/08 at 04:41 PM

[DAME]

Posted: 11/23/08 at 5:02pm

It is a great show. To miss it if you are anywhere in the city would be a true shame.

Updated On: 11/23/08 at 05:02 PM

[Unknown User]

Posted: 11/24/08 at 9:51am

concerning the set... Less is More!!!